Celebrations - Holi

Exercise 1: Warmer

Do you have a favourite colour?

What colour clothes do you like to wear?

What colours make you feel happy?

Exercise 2: Vocabulary
Write the words in bold in the article next to their meanings.
Then read the text about Holi.

1. : to cook over a fire or in an oven.

2. : people you do not know.
3. : large fires built outside – often at parties or celebrations.
4. : enjoyment or happiness expressed by laughing.
5. : to follow or run after someone quickly to catch them.
6. : a soft dry substance that looks like dust or sand.
7. : means that people are with each other and not alone.
8. : something that is liked by many people.
9. : the action of forgetting bad feelings about someone who has hurt you.
10. : to win or be more successful than another.

Holi is also called the ‘festival of colours’, or the ‘festival of love’. It is a happy festival with lots of fun and
laughter.

The festival of Holi usually lasts for one night and one day. It celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of
spring. It also celebrates the victory of good over evil.

Holi is a very old traditional Hindi festival celebrated in north India, Nepal and South Asia. Now, Holi is also
popular in other parts of the world such as the USA, the UK, Germany and Australia.

In India, Holi starts in the evening of the spring full moon. People build large bonftres, they roast food and
there is lots of singing and dancing.

The next morning is a time for fun, play and colour. People go out into the streets with coloured powder and
water. They chase and throw colours on their friends, neighbours and strangers.

By the afternoon, the streets, houses and people are bright red, pink, blue, yellow, purple and green.

In the evening, friends and families gather together to eat and drink. Holi is a time for forgiveness, new
beginnings and togetherness.

© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2018

Celebrations: Holi 1
Exercise 3: Understanding the text

Complete the facts about Holi with information from the text.

1. The festival of Holi comes from .

2. It is also called .
3. The festival lasts for .
4. The festival starts with .
5. The next day, people throw at each other.
6. In the evening they .
7. Holi is a happy festival with lots of .

© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2018

Celebrations: Holi